20th May

After breakfast walked the couple of blocks to Rome Termini for our train to Sienna.  Why is it that the only train on the information board without a platform listed is ours?  Never mind, we’ve got plenty of time and we aren’t the only ones bemused.  When it eventually makes it to the top of the list for departures and with only 5 mins to go, it at last gets allocated.  Obviously looking stricken with doubt about where to stand on the platform for our allocated seats, I am approached by a helpful chap who indicates he will show me - and then promptly takes off with my suitcase into the throng of travellers.  If I was looking worried a minute ago I am now in a panic and take off after him hoping Eric will find me eventually.  To my great relief we are all reunited in the correct carriage for the journey as the train pulls out.  Only Euro 5 lighter!  My nerves are quickly relaxed by the rhythmic motion of the train, living in the NT I’d forgotten how much I enjoy this mode of travel.  Typical of any city I’ve moved through on a train, Rome looks pretty dilapidated along the tracks.  The only bit of cheer is all the wild poppies that seem to sprout and bloom in every crack and fissure.  It’s a fast train and once we leave Rome behind the view out the window alternates between rolling green hillsides dotted with villas, small villages or we are plunged into tunnels of darkness where the pressure in our sinuses is a little uncomfortable.

At Chuisi-Chiancano we changed from the train to a bus and arrived at the terminal on the outskirts of Siena at lunchtime.  After a quick bite to eat and a few essential groceries we caught a taxi to La Grotta di Montecchino, our home for the next few days.  The owner was a bit bemused that we didn’t have our own car and changed our room to one at the homestead near the road and bus stop rather than in the quarters about 600m down the track where the shared dining room and swimming pool are located.  He let Mama show us to our room, and with no English she managed to explain how not to lock ourselves out of the room when we are enjoying the sunny courtyard, at least I think that’s what she said.  We settled in to our quaint apartment and then decided to take the bus to the local village.

Since the timetable told us the next bus wasn’t due for another 20mins, and the trip is only 2 kms, we made the decision to walk, having sat so much already today.  This turned out to be a bit rash as the roads in Italy have no shoulders, there are no footpaths even in the villages, and the traffic moves at alarming speed when you are sharing the same space.  We hadn’t gone far at all before realizing how perilous the decision was.  But we got there safely and found the supermarket for supplies for dinner and evening drinks. We had to wait out a thunder storm under the awning of the local bar before making our way back to the bus stop.  In the meantime we’d missed the bus. If we waited for the next one it would be getting dark and, not sure we’ll find our stop, we made the treacherous walk back lugging all the groceries!  We shared a pre-dinner drink in the now not so sunny courtyard and then Eric made a wonderful dinner inspired by the locality – pasta!